UPDATE: On Wednesday, Mayor E. "Ben" Zahn III rescinded his policy barring the city of Kenner's booster clubs from buying or accepting delivery of Nike products at the city's recreation facilities.

The mayor of Kenner, Louisiana, doesn’t seem to like Colin Kaepernick much. He also doesn’t seem too happy that the sports merchandise juggernaut Nike made Kaepernick the face of its new “Dream Crazy” campaign. But instead of simply expressing his personal opinion, he’s trying to use the power of his public office to prevent others from expressing their support for Colin Kaepernick.

And that’s unconstitutional.

On September 5, Kenner Mayor E. “Ben” Zahn III issued a memorandum prohibiting private booster clubs operating at Kenner recreation facilities from buying or accepting delivery of any product with the company’s famous swoosh symbol. “Under no circumstances,” the memo reads, “will any Nike product or any product with the Nike logo be purchased for use or delivery at any City of Kenner Recreation Facility.” Under the new policy, the city’s director of parks and recreation must approve any athletic product or apparel before a booster club can purchase them.

On Wednesday, the ACLU and the ACLU of Louisiana sent a letter to Mayor Zahn informing him that his actions violate the First Amendment and advising him to rescind his policy immediately. We have taken this action because Zahn’s policy violates the First Amendment’s prohibition on content and viewpoint discrimination. It prevents booster clubs from purchasing Nike’s products based solely on the mayor’s opposition to Nike’s political expression.

How do we know this? Because Zahn said so himself.

After his policy caused a furor both locally and nationally, the mayor issued a follow-up statement on September 11. According to Zahn, he implemented his Nike ban because the company, “in its zeal to sell shoes, chose to promote and sell a political message.” The mayor couldn’t be any clearer. His policy is directed at the political message communicated by Nike and those who wear Nike apparel.

And no one should lose sight of what that message is. Kaepernick lost his job as a quarterback in the NFL because he has the temerity to kneel during the national anthem. Kaepernick has explained that he took a knee to protest rampant police brutality and discrimination against people of color across the United States. By doing so, he sparked the “Take-a-Knee” movement, which continues today.

Zahn argues that his policy is an attempt “only to protect taxpayer dollars from being used in a political campaign.” This argument falls flat. While Kenner booster clubs receive city funds, they also raise their money from private sources, and the city has no legitimate interest in dictating which companies, causes, or “political agendas” booster clubs may support with their own money.

There is only one plausible conclusion for the mayor’s actions: He is trying to stop booster clubs from symbolically expressing their support for political views the mayor detests. That’s a textbook First Amendment violation.

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Nora

If he was only seeking fame, he would have kept his mouth shut and played the game. It’s never a convenient time to call out racism and injustice. Just Do It! #TakeAKnee

September 13, 2018

7:49 AM

Anonymous

Change dealers,that last batch of acid is making you even stupider....

September 13, 2018

8:13 AM

Anonymous

Great nickname you thought of. Really funny. I'm laughing so hard because it's so funny and witty. Truly. How did you even come up with that? You have such a great sense of humor. Really, there's nothing funnier than changing someone's name a little bit. I mean, Colon! Hahaha! Hahahahhah! COPPERNICKEL!!! AHAHAHAHAHA.

September 13, 2018

8:51 AM

Anonymous

???? Please stop with the childish practice of making up stupid, derogatory names for those who don't share your beliefs. The practice is infantile and in no way contributes to intelligent dialogue.

September 13, 2018

9:45 AM

New Deal

You're trippin' doc.

September 13, 2018

11:07 AM

Anonymous

So when are you going to clean your colon out for being a bigot and a racist

September 13, 2018

12:13 PM

Shave Meeker

I suppose you would say the same thing to Rosa Parks and Dr King.

September 13, 2018

1:08 PM

Anonymous

I'm to much of a lady to suggest what you should do.

September 13, 2018

3:52 PM

Anonymous

They have never rwally done anything. You sir are an idiot! Obviously, you can't read or don't inderstand that continuing to shoot and kill unarmed men and women, who have committed a crime is "doing something"

September 13, 2018

8:57 PM

Dr. Timothy Leary

I'd like to thank all of you people for your responses. That is what makes "trolling" fun.